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Reviews
The Ugly American (1963)
Rome in Asia
As Prime Minister Kwen Sai (Kukrit Pramoj) and United States Ambassador Harrison Carter Macwhite (Marlon Brando) watch an antigovernment demonstration, the Prime Minister tells the Ambassador, "You know, in the last revolution, I was in that crowd shrieking the same demands. It's rather like an overproduced version of Julius Caesar, isn't it?" Later, he continues "(antigovernment opposition leader) Deong is not a Communist. He has never been a Communist. And as Caesar was betrayed, so will he!" Brando was Mark Antony in Julius Caesar (1953). Viewers will have to decide for themselves whether or not that film was "an overproduced version."
Mata Hari, agent H21 (1964)
Aspect ratio?
Does anybody know the correct aspect ratio for this film? It seems to be as mysterious as Mata Hari herself.
IMDb says 4:3, the same as the Video Dimensions (CK596) DVD package. However, the Video Dimensions disc presents the film at 1.77:1. The included trailer is 2.35:1. Scenes from the film in the trailer include material from the sides not in the film, suggesting that the film is, in fact, a 2.35:1 film cropped to 1.77:1 to avoid letter-boxing.
Or was the film shot at 4:3 and then cropped at the top and bottom for exhibition at other aspect ratios?
Adding to the confusion is that Amazon's French website lists two versions of the film at 1.66:1.
As for the film itself, after seeing it referenced in Jeanne Moreau's obituaries and after seeing Greta Garbo's 1931 version, I wanted to see Ms. Moreau's interpretation of the role. Like other great actresses, she will be best remembered for her major roles. It was a pleasure to see her here as well.
My rating of 7 is based on the fact that biopics often depict the highlights of the subject's life while fictionalizing much of the rest. I will leave it to the experts on Mata Hari's life to decide if her wartime activities depicted here are accurate.